Do you believe in God? (or other deity)

Religion, to an agnostic, perhaps doesn’t make sense because it requires a leap of faith that is not based on fact or truth.

To be or not to be....

My name is Simon and I’m an agnostic.

What is an agnostic?

Firstly, many people think agnostics do not believe in God, and that is incorrect – an atheist is someone who does not believe in God. Agnostics believe in what they see or perceive. An agnostic is a person who says that there is no true way of knowing whether a God (or Gods) exist but they do not deny that God might exist.

Are agnostic people evil?

There are evil people in all walks of life, be them Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish or Buddhist, so there are some evil agnostics, however most agnostics are not evil and most lead a very ‘Christian’ life. Just because I do not believe in a God doesn’t mean that I cannot be a good person who leads a wholesome and charitable life, and follows many of the tenets set up by the World’s religions. I can still help someone in need, I can still be kind, I can still love my neighbor, not commit adultery etc - I don’t need a God to be able to lead a ‘Christian’ life.

What’s wrong with religion?

There is nothing wrong with religion, and billions of people are perfectly happy to follow the doctrines of their religion. While some extremists will use religion and cause ‘terror’ in the name of their God, the majority of religious people are peace-loving.

Religion, to an agnostic, perhaps doesn’t make sense because it requires a leap of faith that is not based on fact or truth, but based on a belief system that cannot be proven – this doesn’t mean that religion is fake or wrong, it just isn’t ‘provable’ for the typical agnostic.

As I look around the world and see a lot of damage that religion does, I often wonder how people’s faith can be so strong – but then I look around and see the good that religious people do and realize that the good far outweighs the damage, it just doesn’t make headlines.

I do note that many religious people will argue that much of their religion is based on historic fact – but as someone is logical, and analytical, I cannot believe much of the religious history; while I’m sure there are some truths in the history, I feel that much of history has been manipulated – whether it’s for religious purposes or to make things look better (remember, in War the winners write the history). – you obviously have the right to disagree!

Why an agnostic?

Why an agnostic and not an atheist? Well, I do believe there is something more powerful to use (see my philosophy below) that encompasses the human soul and makes it greater than the individual; I do not believe it is an all powerful being though, but do believe there is something that could be interpreted as a God like being – OK being a bit geekish here, Q from Star Trek would seem like a God to mankind.

I’d love to be able to say I truly believe in God, but that would be a lie, not only to God, but also to me. The only religion that perhaps encapsulates something of my beliefs is Buddhism, but Buddha isn’t a God, but just an enlightened man.

I truly hope that I am wrong; I’d love to believe that there is a benevolent God watching over mankind, waiting for us in Heaven as we ascend from this ‘hell on earth’ – I understand that the concept does give a lot of people hope and comfort.

I also hope that God will not hold me accountable for not believing if I end up in front of the Pearly Gates – if I were to have a God, he would be a God who doesn’t care if I believe or not, but judges me on how I lived my life and treated others.

My Philosophy

I should point out that this is a philosophy of mine and not a belief – it’s the way I’d organize a Universe if I was in charge! I still am skeptical about even my own belief as there is no fact to prove it one way or the other – there are isolated incidents of ‘reincarnation’ and of knowledge of things people should not know about, but again these do not prove my philosophy beyond doubt and therefore I cannot believe until it is proven!

I like to believe there is a ‘soul’ of the universe. This soul is vast and timeless, and thoroughly inquisitive. To learn, it takes parts of its soul and sends them out into the universe to experience, to learn, to live, to die – these ‘parts’ essentially are the souls that are humanity, animals, plants or any other life form we are yet to encounter.

We are like a collective, and when we die we go back to this ‘soul’ and pass on what we have learned – this is a continual cycle and we could have thousands or millions of lives as time goes by. It’s a form of reincarnation in a way, but I tend to think of us as being one soul in billions of parts.

In a way this is my ‘religion’ and the ‘soul’ is my God – and I realize there are shades of many religions within my beliefs – BUT I do not believe the ‘soul’ is God; I do not believe that the ‘soul’ created everything, although it is possible, but even if the ‘soul’ did create everything, I don’t think it’s in the way the Bible teaches us, and I definitely do not feel that the ‘soul’ is listening to all our prayers, and that we will all go to Heaven (or Hell) eventually.

I just believe that the ‘soul’ is so far more enlightened than we are that we cannot comprehend the thoughts, intelligence and scope of it and thus it becomes God-like to us.

One question I cannot answer of course is the ubiquitous question about the origins of the ‘soul’ or the Universe or Time. Are there multiple souls? Probably – the Universe are so vast, that this ‘soul’ could simply be one of many ‘souls’ in the Universe.

Comments

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sending

Armando León B. 4 years ago

Dear Sydney, have you explored the metaphysics of A Course in Miracles?

In a nutshell:

If I want to believe in a perfect, eternal and loving God, then my God could not have created time and space (because, if He did, He would be a capricious and punishing God in Whom I would refuse to believe!);

and my real REALITY has to be His eternal Oneness, where we all —past, present and future souls or spirits— are One in Christ, His only Son, Who is One with Him, in the "S-1.in.1 3 Endless the harmony, and end-less, too, the joyous concord of the Love They give forever to Each Other. 4 And in this, creation is extended. 5 God gives thanks to His extension in His Son. 6 His Son gives thanks for his creation, in the song of his creating in his Father's Name. 7 The Love They share is what all prayer will be throughout eternity, when time is done. 8 For such it was before time seemed to be.

So, the time and space my senses experience here is unreal, an illusion...

And that illusion was made, in one way or another, by a thought of the Son of God while in his sleep (yes, how could He sleep in the eternal present of Eternity?) that implied that he could separate from God's Oneness, and make (create) by himself...

This resolves the problem of evil, which becomes part of the process of evolution, and allows oneself to forgive the other, others, in spite of the defenselessness which we eventually will find ourselves...

Etc.

Armando León B.,

Caracas, Venezuela

Author

Simon Cook 4 years agofrom NJ, USA

Alexanderium - it's probably down to human nature - as potential mortality becomes more prevalent in later life, many people begin to think about 'what happens after life' and perhaps just a few start to believe 'just in case' - the need to exist beyond death probably becomes more powerful the older you are...

Khaled Alayesh 4 years ago

I came across such brilliant men, that by the approach of their physical ending "death", their fundamental and philosophical perceptions seems to start fading and replaced with a previous material that have been thrusted upon them. My wonder is, why when one consider hi's or her's own death one would be stubborn with even hi's or her's mostly righteous claims (atheism,agnosticism,etc) and would replace them with irrational backward claims and return to hi's or her's ancestors religions hoping to have an after life. We strive to survive so much for any cause after all.

Author

Simon Cook 4 years agofrom NJ, USA

Alexanderium - I guess the older I et the more chance I have of experiencing something that will change my mind...

Khaled Alayesh 4 years ago

Hey I have an inquiry. Do you believe you'll perceive and continue being an agnostic even at an alter age?

thank you.

f_hruz 5 years agofrom Toronto, Ontario, Canada

@ Hey Pintoman - just in case you do have some wits left to understand what's going on in the real world, there maybe a chance you could actually follow the clear logic as spelled out in this video here ....

Let it sink into your tiny, god delusional brain and then post a coherent reply, if you can - ok?

Franto in Toronto

f_hruz 5 years agofrom Toronto, Ontario, Canada

@ Pintoman - you are obviously intellectually underdeveloped or you would have found your way to some of my own hub pages to discuss questions of substance instead of using buzz words which you visibly have no real understanding of ... or you wouldn't display so little grasp of reality and the natural world as it exists without ANY help from any gods!

d.william 5 years agofrom Somewhere in the south

Pintoman: If you want to have a debate or discussion with me do it through the proper venue. I have written many hubs regarding the evils of organized religion - you can find them on my hub pages. The comments made on each of them are displayed, intact, as i never censure the comments to give myself a favorable view as many do.

Your comments about atheists killing is also unfounded, as most wars in the history of man were fought by christians whose only goal was to eliminate their opposition. Christianity has a history of severe violence, corruption, and mind control perpetrated by its founders: the Roman Government and their creation: the roman catholic church and their creation: the bible.

Pintoman 5 years ago

Or what. My argument is still written above. You can go back and read it. That argument says exactly what you say you want me to say. I'm not following this anymore, nothing here. If you ever figure out what an argument is, you can email me. That argument I posted is the Kalam Cosmological Argument. There have been no refutations of it. So who's the half wit?

f_hruz 5 years agofrom Toronto, Ontario, Canada

@ Pintoman - are you some half wit or what? I told you already that there is NO evidence that I can see why nature would require a god or any part of any religion to function as well as she does ... I have not see any thing from you of any serious substance. If you have some thing to discuss, make your case to show how nature requires a god and define what such a god consists of .. ok?

Pintoman 5 years ago

d. william, I don't even believe you that your life was threatened because you believe in some sort of god, or whatever. Maybe so, but you would be correct that they are not Christians. I have only pointed out logical contradictions. Atheists are the ones to watch out for, atheists have killed 140 million people in the last century. You either agree with them, or they really will kill you, they've proven it.

d.william 5 years agofrom Somewhere in the south

Great hub. Your beliefs are exactly as mine, except i call your "soul" the "Universal Oneness". I do many articles on this very premise and mirror yours quite closely. I am happy to see i am not the only rebel around.

Your commenters seem to be a little feisty when others do not believe as they do. I have been called every name in the book for my beliefs, told i am satans pawn, and had my life threatened several times by these self professed "christians" who think they are soldiers of God.

I look forward to reading more of your stuff.

Pintoman 5 years ago

f hruz, stop with the mindless rant and give a logical argument against mine. Or are you completely ignorant of how logic works? Dive in, because I'm dying to get at your statements about rationality too. I gave you a valid and sound argument for the existence of God, at 100% proof positive. Where's your rebuttal argument? Show me how my argument is ignorance based on mythological stories if that's all you've got. You can't even do that. Furthermore, if you are stating there is no God, prove it. Why do you get some free pass for just stating things as fact? I've given a deductive logical argument, where's yours? I'm tired of the ridiculous, mindless rants from atheists, ridiculing anyone that disagrees with them. I want substance. Make an argument refuting mine or admit you don't have one.

f_hruz 5 years agofrom Toronto, Ontario, Canada

@ Pintoman - don't tell me you met god in a bar the other night ... ahaha ... he must have had a forged ID, because I have yet to see ANY rational mind give such a super natural thing a greater probability than 1% of existing in reality ... 99% are wishful mythological stories based on ignorance of our natural reality and religious absurdity galore - lol

Pintoman 5 years ago

F hruz how irrational is it to ignore a sound and valid argument for the existence of God?

f_hruz 5 years agofrom Toronto, Ontario, Canada

@ Pintoman - For humans who can think and understand that we are a product of nature, it is highly irrational to see some mythological god standing behind everything natural.

If you don't understand how nature functions, how absurd is it to think some undefined god must have done it when no supernatural forces can be shown and are highly unlikely to have ever existed in the real world?

Franto in Toronto

Pintoman 5 years ago

To make a point: (don't see this as an attack on you) What's wrong with agnostics is they are lazy; I don't know if there is a God and I'm not going to find out. You say you are analytical and logical but you won't analyze facts or use logic. You are even contradictory in saying there might be a God, but you don't think so; taking a leap of faith. While saying you can't take a leap of faith to believe in God. God is logically necessary: Whatever begins to exist has a cause. The universe began to exist. Therefore the universe has a cause. This cause would necessarily be outside of space and time and supremely powerful.

f_hruz 6 years agofrom Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Religion has it all backwards!

All forms of life on earth - and else where - are a product of nature, this includes homo sapiens. We know it was humans who invented all kinds of myths, including all religions, but we can also clearly see that nature functions very well without any man made myths, especially religions!

So why would any intelligent human not see that all gods are irrational constructs of human thought of no real use to nature and anything nature created, including homo sapiens?

Silvertip01 6 years agofrom West Virginia, USA

Simeyc..After having investigating "everything carefully",I have come to know and love Jesus.Your hub,however, was a great hub and in some ways very thought provoking.I stand w/VoiceCIW and hope that someday we can count you as a brother.The Bible says to knock and the door shall be opened:to seek and you shall find..Keep seeking and enjoy the journey,bro..Oh..and IcTodd1947,good work..

f_hruz 6 years agofrom Toronto, Ontario, Canada

What if that search for gods finally just points at one minor part of natures evolutionary potential for continued intellectual development? Will the scientific study, research and discovery of other natural forces finally conclude all that silly talk about super natural gods and creators?

Religiosity as an old tradition has historic, anthropological value and belongs in the art department - nature and reality functions perfectly without any gods!

skip55 7 years ago

There is nothing wrong with being an agnostic. There just is no proof. I don't want to claim something just because I was taught it by someone who had an investment in me believing what they believe. Beliefs are beliefs. Faith is faith. I daresay that if the US was a Muslim country, those who are Christians would be Muslims and so on. As I say, we tend of stay with what we were indoctrinated into. Why not, it is comforting. It is the same as following the local sports team. Why not be with all theologies and enjoy the jewels each has to give us?

Author

Simon Cook 7 years agofrom NJ, USA

James A Watkins: thank you for your kind words! To be honest I didn't take any of the comments on the hub as an insult (or slander) I actually enjoy the debate and realize there is a lot of emotive discussion that a statement like' what's wrong with being an agnostic' is going to get....it's nice to see zealous arguments occasionally, if only to remind myself the dangers of getting overly zealous!

James A Watkins 7 years agofrom Chicago

You wrote a fine Hub that nicely explicates your point of view. I enjoyed exploring your mind a bit. I was told that you being slandered and insulted by your commentors. One fellow there was more zealous than smooth but I don't think he meant any harm. Thanks.

M. T. Dremer 7 years agofrom United States

My beliefs are similar to yours in that every religion (or the absence of one) has the capacity to produce good and bad people. Being of a religion does not guarantee that you will lead a good life. For example, there is a christian organization in my home city that helps out the poor with food, necessities and a free health clinic (to name a few). I am very much in support of this organization even though I'm an atheist, because their actions speak louder than their religion. We should be working to help each other, not just hoping for a free ticket into heaven by going to a building every Sunday.

But in regards to my own beliefs, a lot of it is based around evidence. This would lead me to become an agnostic because I will believe what I can see. However what pushes me into the atheist category is my love of stories. I see how influential stories can be on human life. How one story can inspire countless other stories that are similar. There are all these stories for children that teach them lessons (such as slow and steady wins the race) yet we know these are fiction. Maybe they were based on some real event, but a turtle probably never raced a rabbit and won. So why do we separate these childrens' fables (or any other story) from the bible? Why does the bible get a free ticket to believer-town?

Stories are often used to teach humans things because they stick with us far more than any sort of text book list of things we should do. The bible, in my eyes, is just the oldest and most widespread story of how to live a good life, not an accurate representation of a god. This, to me, is proof that there is no god and the only merit to religion is encouraging people to be better.

Great hub!

lctodd1947 7 years agofrom USA

I usually do not get involved in any conversation about religion or politics. Because of the very reason "sandra" comments. I simply was thinking the conversation needed to be cooled down at little above. We all speak what we feel and it is very important that we each "work out our own salvation." Whatever that is...I am not trying to tell anyone what to do or not to do....

Pamela Lipscomb 7 years agofrom Charlotte, North Carolina

There is nothing wrong with being an agnostic. Being an agnostic means you are still seeking for a what you can embrace as the truth.

Paula 7 years agofrom The Midwest, USA

Hi Simey, I think that as long as a person is searching out the truth, and open to whatever that is, then that is a great thing! We have good science that ought to be looked at without ruling anything out in advance (which would be bad science), and I think the fact that you seem more open and not adamant about what you don't know for sure is a respectable position. We all need to be careful to not lump whole groups of people together, and I hate to see that when I do, but it happens. We see evidence for life, and we see history and humanity and our universe... Its a great thing to ask ourselves what best explains what we do see. I am speaking of origins, and that is a great search because whatever that origin is, it would know a thing or two about this life, and anything prior or what comes after. Being the most reasonable we can, sticking to what is logical, and avoiding what is immoral are all good things, in my opinion. Thank you for sharing what you did here, and there is no problem with being an agnostic if that is what you have truthfully found to be the best way to think about things. I liked how you really shared your thought process and philosophy, thank you.

sandra rinck 7 years ago

Geeze, it never fails to surprise menearly 3 years later that for some reason you really piss off Christians. It's funny at best because it just comes out of nowhere!

I say, whatever! The more they keep talking the more they show their 'true' self and their 'jesus' the less power their corrupted system has over the world.

Encourage them to keep speaking because we don't have to prove it, they prove it themselves everyday for the world to see.

lctodd1947 7 years agofrom USA

I am not affluent in the scriptures but let's try to cool down the atmosphere here. Let's see how to explain thing without being upset. Okay? You can really do what you want if it makes you feel better?? But usually it doesn't.

Now, to the scripture. This is my interpretation of the scripture you are speaking of. The Scribes were accusing Jesus of eating with publicans and sinners, instead of his disciples and those who were already following him. That is when he said that "they who are righteous, need not a physician, but they who are sick: I came not to call the righteous, (he was speaking of those that were already enlightened in Christ)but sinners to repentance." Mark 2: 17. He was talking about those who were already following him as not needing a physician.

Romans 3:23 states that "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." 1John 1.8: "If we say we have no sins, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

1John 3:9 "Whosoever is born of God doeth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of Him."

Then in Hebrews 10:26--"For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

Sounds like to me if I go out and do something I know is sin; (wrong) then I have to do my first works over and that means; ask forgiveness. The sacrifice is no more until I repent again. So therefore you cannot keep sinning willfully or you will have to repent. That is what the scripture says.

But, we have all sinned at one time or the other and we make mistakes everyday. It is one thing to sin willfully and it is another thing to slip up and do something without meaning to, called a mistake.

But again, everyone must work out their own salvation with fear and trembling...per the scripture and not judge another. God will take care of who He is calling as He must call everyone to repentance. The scripture states in Phillippians 3:10-11 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and thing under the earth; and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glorly of God the Father."

SimeyC; your post is good in that it brings out many things to ponder. Please know that I am not preaching or trying to get anyone to do anything either. I am not judging and the scriptures must be rightly divided and studied for the real meaning as many scriptures may seem to knock another backward. My question though to you is; have you ever tried to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ; based upon the word that says: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and tho shall be saved." Without faith, it is impossible to please Him and that is scripture also. We have faith for everything else we do. We have faith that the world will not end tomorrow. We have faith that we are not going to be run over by a truck??? Everything we do in life is based on "faith." Is it not? Think about it. Faith is something we hope for, the evidence of things not seen. We hope and have faith to live until old age; but we do not see that until we are old. We have faith that we will make money on hubpages; but we do not know how much until we see it....shall we smile????

Just my thought and nothing derogatory toward anyone. All scripture is King James Version.

Peace...

Debra Allen 7 years agofrom West By God

I told you it was in Mark now you not knowing exactly what I am talking about proves you are full of sh**.

For your edification there is no such creature as the Devil in the OT and Satan is only an adversary and if you read any of my hubs you would know this, but you are Bearing False Witness and you don't even care. I don't keep anyone from Jesus--you do.

Here is the verses about all not being sinners. Jesus said it not Paul. Mark 2:10-23 (Young's Literal Translation)

Don't be silly and use scripture out of context to prove your illusions. Read the whole paragraph to see what it says and who he supposedly said it too.

Debra Allen 7 years agofrom West By God

The Asch Experiment, by Solomon Asch, was a famous experiment, designed to test how peer pressure to conform would influence the judgment and individuality of a test subject.

Jesus didn't chose Paul. Don't pray for me to be like you because I won't be like you and you will be soooo dissapointed. NOT MY PROBLEM!

VOICE CIW 7 years ago

Lady Guinevere, let me make it so plain a fool cannot error. Jesus chose Paul to spread His Gospel. Read the Book of Acts 9:3-6, if you even have a Bible. What church doctrine? I don't go to your church. By the way a man has not told me what to believe, God inspired me through His Word (the Bible, the Book you are unfamiliar with). I speak from the Bible and you call it babble, that is because you have not the Spirit of God, that is why you cannot understand what I am saying. 2 Corinthians 4:4 reads, " In whom the god (Satan) of this world system hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, Whom is the image of God, should shine unto them." You are blinded to the Gospel of Christ (the Bible) which could open your eyes to the truth of the Gospel. 2 Corinthians 4:3 reads, " If our Gospel is hid, it is hid to those who are lost." Lady Guinevere you are a lost child, people should run from people like you into the arms of Jesus Christ. You see I quote scripture and I tell you where it is located in the Bible. You cannot do that because you don't know the Bible, so how can you speak on it. Anybody can say Jesus said this it is somewhere in the Bible. Just by you're not telling where your quote is located in the Bible let me know and every true christian know you have no idea what the Bible is, and I doubt you even read it. Stop being a tool for Satan, trying to hinder people from coming to Christ. I am going to pray for you, " Lord Jesus touch this woman's mind, bind the works and thoughts of the enemy that has possess her, touch her with your Spirit, open her blinded eyes, that she may see the Light of the Gospel, in Jesus Name, I pray."

Now that is funny because how would YOU know who knows what and who does not--are YOU the All Knowing God? I think not. Yes it is right in the Bible and you can go look it up. If you choose Pauls words over those of Jesus then you are NOT a Christian, but a Paulian. I dare you to look it up.

In the Church Doctrine it also states that the People and the Clergy are to be kept in the dark at all costs. I do not LIE! It seems that you also perpetrate ignorance by trying to silencing those who do not believe the man who has told you what to believe.

I am not even going to comment on the rest of your condescending babble.

Your kind scares those who you want to convert, not brings them to it.

VOICE CIW 7 years ago

Lady Guivevere, you need to keep quiet on things you know nothing about. For you to lie about what Jesus said shows that you have no respect for Jesus. Jesus never said that christians do not sin, and you cannot tell me or anyone else where in scripture Jesus said that. If you have a Bible read Romans 3:23, it reads, " For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." You see I can back up what I say with scripture. Lady Guinevere you are a hindrance to the Gospel of Christ, you don't know anything about christians, you don't know anything about Jesus Christ, and don't know anything about the Bible. You just run your mouth just to hear yourself talk. I don't know why anyone really listen to you or read what you write. I really don't know why I am still engaged in this conversation with you, Proverbs 26:4 reads, "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him." Stop listening to what people tell you, and read the Bible for yourself. Jesus loves you, can you find that in the Bible?

Debra Allen 7 years agofrom West By God

@Voice CW, All Christians do NOT sin and you can read that right from that Bible of yours and Jesus was the one who said it.

Why are Christians so condescending? Does it Make Them Feel Superior?:

SimeyC, All christians sin, and I do too. Jesus Christ died for our sins, all christians have to do when we sin is ask Jesus Christ to forgive us, and He will. The Bible says, If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful to forgive us. Jesus Christ died for our past, present, and future sins. I know you have to decide for yourself, but I just wanted to let you know we christians do sin. The Bible says, All have sinned, and come short of the Glory of God. The Beautiful thing SimeyC is that God knows we are not perfect, and He helps us to live this life with Christ. You be blessed. I love you in the Lord.

Voice CIW: I think the biggest problem I have with faith is contained in your statement

"No matter what books you read, or what people tell you, if you don't recognize Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have no hope for eternal life.".

I really don't understand how I can lead a perfect life without committing any sin and yet be punished simply because I didn't believe in God.

I don't think anyone but myself can answer this, as it's a personal issue - but it's part of the reason why I have not found God.

I do thank you for your kind words though, and do admire your faith - I hope to find my own faith one day, whether it is Christianity etc....

As you pointed out, I don't discount the fact there may be a God....

VOICE CIW 7 years ago

SimeyC, I am a christian, and after reading your hub, I believe that you will become a christian. You may ask me why, it is because you have not ruled out that there is a God. The Bible said, to come to God, you must believe that He is God. To believe in God you need faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. My faith in Jesus Christ (God) is the substance that I will have eternal life with Christ in heaven, and I don't have any physical evidence that this will happen, but my hope (evidence not seen)in Christ is what I go by. I am not trying to convert you SimeyC, but I pray that you will one day come into the knowledge of Christ. You seem to be a very nice person, and Jesus Christ loves you, He loves everyone. No matter what books you read, or what people tell you, if you don't recognize Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have no hope for eternal life. After reading your hub, I believe, that Christ is touching you, and you will eventually become a christian. God Bless You!

Debra Allen 7 years agofrom West By God

It more like graduating and going to another class. I have a hub on here aobut my experience with that so called after life--only it really isn't an AFTER life, it's just a continuation of what we began with--who knows what that is or was. You may read it as The Dark Night of The Soul, My Story. I have changed the name many times because I really don't know what to call it.

The questions about the ship and which one you signed up on is the title of another hub that I did and you may find interesting.

I just plant seeds and it is up to the reader to think upon the things that I write. I try not to tell others that my way is the right way because it simply is not.

Author

Simon Cook 7 years agofrom NJ, USA

Shazwellyn: true - and what is strange is that it really kills me not knowing - being scientific I live for facts! Ah well, I hope there's a 'Dummy's guide to the afterlife' when I die!!!

shazwellyn 7 years agofrom Great Britain

Simey - that is the problem with being agnostic, I guess... we just dont know for sure! hehehe

Debra Allen 7 years agofrom West By God

What Ship Did You Sign Up For?

Author

Simon Cook 7 years agofrom NJ, USA

Lady Guiniver: I liked the way Shazwellyn put things too! As for your 'mirror' quote - that's a very interesting way to look at things - I guess there's a part of God in all of us.....

Author

Simon Cook 7 years agofrom NJ, USA

Shazwellyn: LOL the problem is that I don't know if I'm on the outside looking in, or on the inside looking out!

Lela 7 years agofrom Somewhere in the universe

If religionists would come up with a better bible, they might make more sense. Someone said, "All you need to become agnostic would be to read the bible." or words to that effect. It's true. The book is 2,000 years old and has gaps you can fit a whole planet into. Or a dinosaur. But, I digress.

Nice hub and your opinion is a logical one. :-)

Debra Allen 7 years agofrom West By God

@Shazwellyn, What an interesting way to put things. LOL

@Simey, Look in the mirror and see that God you are looking for.

shazwellyn 7 years agofrom Great Britain

Yes, peaceful creatures that have a warm fuzzy feeling when they know they have good intentions and practice what they preach.

It is nice to be on the outside looking in, dont you think?

Author

Simon Cook 7 years agofrom NJ, USA

Frank Menchise: you are welcome. I think the one thing that links all mankind is the need to look for smoething to explain why we are here - God fills that need nicely - for me, the need to find a real 'god' is strong in me, and I hope to find that one day - for now agnotism (is that a word) works for me!

Author

Simon Cook 7 years agofrom NJ, USA

Breakfastpop: thanks for the kind words - glad I can be though provoking once in a while!!!

Francesco Menchise 7 years agofrom Brisbane Australia

Thanks for sharing your beliefs.

This is a very interesting hub that explains a lot about the human soul and our human beliefs; you see I understand you because my beliefs are theist-agnostic and I am looking for links which are able to bind existing religions together, not because there needs to be a god, but because we need still to find out what sort of god is there for real?

May the life force of God bless you!

breakfastpop 7 years ago

Fascinating and thought provoking hub. I really enjoyed it.

Author

Simon Cook 7 years agofrom NJ, USA

Lady Guinivere: thanks! I like the idea about ‘souls’ kind of fits in to what I would like to believe in! I’ll check out your hub when I get a chance!

Author

Simon Cook 7 years agofrom NJ, USA

Enlydia Listener: your comment "but each one has to believe in their own way" struck a chord with me! If only everyone in this world was as understanding and accepting, we'd be living in a lot better (and safer) world!

Debra Allen 7 years agofrom West By God

Loved this hub and the definitions. I hear about the 144,000 that will be supposedly going to heaven in the end. I have a thought on this. Perhaps there were only 144,000 main Souls that were made but through evolution nad the need to learn more about the main soul it has split into many, many child or offshoot souls and we are all still very much a part of those original souls.

I believe in a network that we are all a part of and it is the network that we learn from. I wrote a hub about the way that I was shown about all this and the title of that hub is What I Learned When I Went To Heaven (Dark Night Of The Soul, My Story). Though I have written about those experiences I am still being transformed by more experiences after that experience. We never stop learning and living and that incluses what we call death. It all just another transformation to more growth.

Thanks for this hub. I voted it up and awesome and shared it.

Enlydia Listener 7 years agofrom trailer in the country

Hi...this struck a chord with me...my husband and I raised our 8 children on bible devotions every night for years...and now most of our children may be what you call agnostics...I could say "what went wrong?"...but each one has to believe in their own way...everyone must and will chose for themselves. Blessings from one who still does believe in God

Author

Simon Cook 7 years agofrom NJ, USA

rotl: thank you for your kind words.

rotl 7 years agofrom Florida

Really enjoyed it. I had never heard such a detailed explanation of an agnostic's thought process. I don't find anything illogical about your reasoning. And I think a lot of people who call themselves religious would benefit from reading your thoughts.